COMEDIE-FRANCAISE

formally Le Thtre-franais, also called La Maison de Molire, national theatre of France and the world's longest established national theatre. After the death of the playwright Molire (1673), his company of actors joined forces with a company playing at the Thtre du Marais, the resulting company being known as the Thtre Gungaud. In 1680 the company that has survived as the Comdie-Franaise was founded when the Gungaud company merged with that at the Htel de Bourgogne, to become the only professional French company then playing in Paris. The French Revolution caused a division of loyalties within the company; and in 1791 one group, led by the great actor Franois-Joseph Talma, established separate headquarters at the present home of the Comdie-Franaise in what is now the Place de Thtre-Franais in the rue de Richelieu, while the more conservative group, under the leadership of Ren Mol, remained at the original site as the Thtre de la Nation. The latter organization fell into disfavour with the public, and at least two of its productions provoked riots that resulted in the imprisonment for almost a year of the players involved. In 1803 the Comdie-Franaise was again reconstituted, this time under Napoleon's administration. A decree issued by him while in Moscow in 1812 established the rules under which the Comdie-Franaise was to function. The organization of the Comdie-Franaise is based on the original Confrrie de la Passion (Confraternity of the Passion), an association of Parisian burghers founded in 1402 for the purpose of presenting religious plays. Under this type of organization, which prevails to this day, each member holds a share of the profits within a democratically structured unit that allows for shared duties and responsibilities. Membership is granted on the basis of merit. After a year's trial period, during which time the actor makes his formal debut, the member becomes a pensionnaire, or probationary member, with a fixed salary. After an indefinite period of time, which may range from several weeks to several years, he may gain full membership as a socitaire, replacing those members who have either died or retired. Retirement with pension is awarded after 20 years of service. Throughout its long history, the Comdie-Franaise has exercised a lasting influence on the development of French theatre, arts, and letters. It has given the world some of the theatre's most illustrious actors: Adrienne Lecouvreur, Mlle Clairon, Henri-Louis Lekain, Franois-Joseph Talma, Mlle Rachel, Sarah Bernhardt, and Jean-Louis Barrault. Although it remains a theatre primarily rooted in past traditions, the Comdie-Franaise, after the appointment of Pierre Dux as its head in 1970, also began to introduce the work of new playwrights, directors, and stage designers.